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I have an Indian passport and am planning to visit Germany with a valid visa. To book a flight for Germany (Mumbai – Dusseldorf), I came across some connected flights that stop at Istanbul.
Do I need to have visa for Turkey? This is the first time I am travelling outside my country, and any information on this will be helpful.
No, you don't need a transit visa - as long as you don't leave the transit lounge. But be sure about your change with airlines/planes, as there are two airports in Istanbul. You may read detailed information on the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Edit (not by Mahmut) to include extract from part of the referenced website:
Question: I will be flying to Europe. I know that our aircraft will land in İstanbul. I am not planning to leave the transit lounge. Do I need to get transit visa?
Answer: If you will not leave the transit lounge at the airport you are not required to have transit visa.
The above to attempt to clarify that in the above circumstances the nationality of the traveller appears irrelevant (though so does "I will be flying to Europe", and interlining of luggage is not covered by the extract).
If you do not leave the airport transit area, then you do not need a transit visa.
From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
If you will not leave the transit lounge at the airport you are not required to have transit visa.
From Turkish Airlines:
Passengers disembark with only their cabin baggage and proceed directly to the boarding gates without any flight or passport procedures.
From Timatic:
TWOV (Transit Without Visa): - Holders of confirmed onward tickets for a max. transit time of 24 hours.
